A Study Of Yang Huan And His "Zi Jing Ge"

<Zun Jing Ge Ji> is a Yuan dynasty stone inscription written in Chinese regularscript, first discovered and unearthed in2011. It was originally carved and coloredwithcinnabar by thecalligrapher Huan Yang, a noted master of ancient script, block script,and especially seal script.<Zun Jing Ge Ji> is written mostly in regular script, thoughportions are done in the style of ancient script; thus it combines the essence of seal scriptwith the charm and grace of regular script.This essay will dissect and analyze the distinct characteristics of the calligraphy styleused in <Zun Jing Ge Ji>. Firstly, it will prove that Huan Yang’s integration of ancient andregular script was not an extemporaneous decision, but rather a deliberate choice borneout of his strongly subjective artistic vision. Secondly, this study will illustrate how <ZunJing Ge Ji> spurred Huan Yang’s growth as a calligrapher, combining his philologicalknowledge and training with his superior transposition skills to create art that is stronglyrepresentative of the society and era in which it was made.The calligraphy style employed in <Zun Jing Ge Ji> is not an original creationof Huan Yang’s, it can be seen as one individuals mastery and combination of the manydiverse styles of his predecessors. Through analysis of these many styles, one can seethat his transposition was not limited to seal and regular script types. In this piece, masteryof the various calligraphy scripts allowed the artist to meld ancient script and otherscripts together. This spurred a major breakthrough and growth of calligraphic stylesand arts, allowing for new styles of art and shapes of script, while also encouraging artisticfreedom, giving later calligraphers more room for individual artistic growth. This piece ofart is thus simultaneously embraces a spirited inheritance of the past and a creativeexploration of the future. Though rooted in tradition, it also challenged and changed ideasabout the conventions of its time, leaving a profound and inspirational impact ongenerations of calligraphers to come.